My tot DOES NOT travel!

For the holidays, since it would be my first one spent away from family, I thought the perfect gift would be to venture down to San Antonio for several days. I knew both mine and my husband’s family would be thrilled to see Jason Jr. who was barely a year old the last time they saw him. Then he couldn’t walk and he only had six teeth. Flash forward five months later and Jason Jr. was running around as though he’d come out of the womb walking and now he had at least 12 teeth.

I never imagined I’d be traveling alone, but my husband couldn’t go. What was I to do?

So yes, I decided to travel back home alone with Jason Jr.

Prior to our departure I sought the advice of mother’s who’d traveled solo with their tot. I was given a specific must-do list: Be sure to have lots of snacks and entertainment. Schedule a flight around his usual sleep time. Don’t purchase him a seat, but rather let him sit in your lap.

Done!

I booked a 6 a.m. flight from Omaha, Neb. with a 30-minute lay over in Dallas. We were expected to arrive in San Antonio by 10 a.m. I loaded Jason Jr.’s bag with Rice Krispy Treats, bananas and as many toys as his diaper and my right shoulder could handle.

But everyone failed mention the most important thing I’d need: ANOTHER ADULT!

Let’s not forget I’m five months pregnant. Carrying Jason Jr. and our carry-on items from one end of the airport to the other seemed more like I was fulfilling some triple-dog dare. The security checkpoint was a pain in the rear end. I had to partially undress and so did Jason Jr. He cried every time he had to take his shoes off. And my back was in so much pain. But I couldn’t put Jason Jr. down and let him walk because as of late whenever his feet touches the ground he darts off as though he’s part of some marathon.

After hassling our way through security and dragging our way to the flight gate it was time to board the plane. I fell into my seat and let out a loud, “Thank you, God.”

And then right on cue the flight attendant informed all passengers that our take off would be slightly delayed due to the snow. During the 30-minute delay I went back and forth with Jason Jr. between my lap and the empty seat next to me. He didn’t want to sit in either. Although he ate his snacks cheerfully, they didn’t calm him. He was amped up like a sound system at a night club. When I was just seconds away from pulling my hair out, the flight attendant came back on the intercom and told us to prepare for take off. The words were like a lullaby to Jason Jr. By the time the plane was in the air he was sleep.

He slept all the way to Dallas. He probably would’ve continued sleeping at the Dallas airport, but because of the delay in Omaha I had to run to catch the flight from Dallas to San Antonio. As I ran through the airport five months pregnant, carrying a 25-pound man child, I heard my name over the airport intercom.

“Last call for Tunette Michele Powell.”

We barely made it.

The flight from Dallas to San Antonio didn’t include any naps. But it was only a 45-minute flight. I read Jason Jr. books, sang songs and taught him new words. When the plane landed a guy sitting directly behind me said, “You really pulled out every trick in the book. You had me engaged.”

I put on my best fake smile and gathered our things to get off the flight. Our four-day stay in San Antonio was hectic, but great. And the voyage back to Omaha was much of what you’ve already read. Needless to say we gave our parents webcams for Christmas. I figure that way they’ll never miss a moment and I’ll never lose my mind.

Tunette Powell

3 Responses

You are brave! I chuckled here and there, especially when you wrote what you really needed was another adult! I was fortunate enough to have to travel only once by plane when my first born was 11 months- we did use the umbrella stroller, and we were able to have her in it all the way up to the plane, and then they tagged it and put it in cargo, and then when the plane landed- the umbrella stroller was waiting for us at the same place. I think I would have pulled my hair out in your situation- and being preggo, too! Hope the rest of your pregnancy goes smooth for you and that you won’t have to travel again by plane unless your husband is with you!

That was some really good advice. Where were you last month? I’m sure I will travel with my son again and I will be sure to take a stroller. Thank you so much for the advice and for reading te blog. Good luck to you in the new year and on your next trip with your 2-yr-old.

Tunette, I’m glad to see you are still blogging here! I’ve traveled with my daughter solo before and will again next month. You did everything right on the snacks and activities, but I have another tip for you if you ever try this again. I usually bring along our umbrella stroller, which isn’t too big. This allows me to snap her in (and save my back from pain) and hang the diaper bag and my purse off the handles. All you have to do is get it tagged at the gate and leave it at the end of the jetway right before you board, then you get it back right when you step off the plane! It adds a little complexity at security as you have to put it through the scanner, but it really saves you on everything else. My two-year-old is 34 pounds and I just cannot carry her anymore, especially when I have all that other stuff with me too! I had to run through the Houston airport earlier this year to make a connection and it was so much easier to do pushing her in the stroller with all the bags on the handles! (I even take a pillow for her and stuff that through the straps of my purse LOL!) Hope you are enjoying Omaha. As a military brat, I lived there for four years as a kid, and despite the weather, I pretty much loved it.

All the best to you and congratulations on baby #2!

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